Nurses are increasingly vocal about the pressures they face due to hospital consolidation and rising executive pay, which they argue compromise patient safety. With hospital services accounting for nearly a third of U.S. health spending, the focus on insurers overlooks the significant role hospitals play in driving costs. The Trump administration’s current approach targets insurers, but experts suggest that addressing hospital consolidation and staffing issues is crucial for cost reduction. Nurses emphasize that cutting staff to improve margins leads to longer stays and higher complication rates, ultimately increasing costs.
